# Early Communication in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) and its Prediction of Autism

> **NIH NIH K23** · UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE HEALTH SCI CTR · 2022 · $200,137

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
 Language difficulties have been reported in nearly 70% of people with tuberous sclerosis
complex (TSC), but language development is poorly understood in this population. Further, 50%
of individuals with TSC develop autism spectrum disorder (ASD); language deficits are also
common in ASD. In a preliminary study, we found deficits in early vocal development in most
infants with TSC regardless of the diagnosis of ASD. Thus, the goal of our current proposal is to
examine potential predictors of language outcome and ASD severity in infants with TSC.
 In Aim 1, we will code audio-video recordings of infants from TACERN (Tuberous
Sclerosis Autism Center of Excellence) for canonical babbling (a precursor to language) and
volubility. We will compare canonical babbling and volubility to a non-vocal measure, shared
attention, in predicting language outcome and ASD severity at 12 months as measured by the
Early Social Communication Scales (ESCS).
 Aims 2-4 will entail a new longitudinal study of the trajectory of language development
and predictors of language outcome and ASD severity. Language will be measured using LENA
(Language ENvironment Analysis) recordings (Aim 2); a fast-mapping paradigm (Aim 3) and the
MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories (MCDI) (Aim 3). Shared attention
will be measured using the ESCS (Aim 2). Each measure will generate potential predictors of
outcome. We will examine how these measures predict language outcome as assessed by the
Preschool Language Scale 5 (PLS-5) (Aims 2-3) and autism severity as measured by the
Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) at 36 months (Aim 4).
 Currently, despite the high risk of language difficulties and ASD in TSC, very little to no
data are available about the origin and trajectory of language in TSC and how this might predict
outcome. Data generated under this Award will serve as the foundation of an independent
research program dedicated to the intersection of TSC neurobiology and language
development.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10525384
- **Project number:** 1K23DC019440-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE HEALTH SCI CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Tanjala Trinette Gipson
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $200,137
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-08-01 → 2027-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10525384

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10525384, Early Communication in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) and its Prediction of Autism (1K23DC019440-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10525384. Licensed CC0.

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